Host nation South Africa got their continent's first World Cup off to a thrilling start by scoring the tournament's opening goal in a spirited 1-1 draw with Mexico on Friday.

Siphiwe Tshabalala's stunning 55th-minute strike had most of the 85,000 fans in Johannesburg's Soccer City stadium - and an entire country - on their feet.

Mexican veteran Rafael Marquez equalised in the 79th minute but South Africa were denied a famous late victory when striker Katlego Mphela's shot hit the post, sparking a wall of sound from their supporters' vuvuzela trumpets.

South Africa coach Carlos Alberto Parreira praised his side - ranked 83rd in the world - for holding their nerve in a match many had expected them to lose.

"As the game progressed, the players became more relaxed and I think the players have broken the ice in terms of playing in a competition like this," the Brazilian said.

"Most of our team are a home-based team, players who are not used to this big environment, and we tried hard to adapt to this ambience, but after 15 minutes we started playing our game, putting the ball on the ground.

"The draw keeps us alive in the competition."

Mexico's coach Javier Aguirre said his team had failed to capitalise on their early domination.

"We had a very good first half but we weren't capable of really putting away our chances," said Aguirre.

"Both teams are going away with a bitter-sweet taste and now we are forced to beat France in our next game."

France, the 1998 winners and beaten finalists four years ago, started with a goalless draw against 10-man Uruguay in the day's other Group A match.

The French failed to capitalise after Uruguay's Nicolas Lodeiro became the first player to be sent off at this World Cup after a rash studs-up challenge on Bakary Sagna at Cape Town's Green Point Stadium.

French striker Sidney Govou missed the best chance of the game, failing to connect with Franck Ribery's perfect low cross, while Diego Forlan was an ever-present threat for Uruguay.

With the points shared equally, France and Mexico will meet on Thursday, while South Africa face Uruguay on Wednesday.

In Johannesburg, the curtain-raiser was preceded by an opening ceremony infused with the colours and sounds of Africa.

Hundreds of dancers filled Soccer City stadium and the air hummed with the sound of thousands of vuvuzelas which are set to be a constant feature of the tournament.

"The time for Africa has come. It has arrived," South African president Jacob Zuma told the crowd.

One heartbroken absentee was Nelson Mandela, who cancelled his planned appearance after his great granddaughter died in a car crash as she returned from a pre-tournament concert.

The tragedy threw a shadow over an event which is about far more than football.

South Africa's pride in making history as the first African hosts has shone through as the Rainbow Nation rides a wave of euphoria not seen since the collapse of apartheid and Mandela's subsequent election.

Friday's action started a 64-match bonanza, culminating back at Soccer City with the final on July 11.

On Saturday, Lionel Messi and Argentina take on Nigeria, and Wayne Rooney leads England in search of their first world crown since 1966.

England's Italian coach Fabio Capello is confident Rooney will prove against the United States that he can be one of the tournament's leading players - providing he keeps his temper under control.

"He is a fantastic player because he wants to win and the hunger in him is really, really strong," Capello said.

"But in this World Cup we have to be careful and respect the referees."

European champions Spain, bidding to lift the World Cup for the first time, have been installed as favourites, but they have crumbled so often at this level that many believe Brazil could add a sixth title to their record haul.

Kaka and his Brazilian team-mates take on surprise qualifiers North Korea on Tuesday, while Spain begin on Wednesday against Switzerland.

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